A cost-effective solution to skin tears in aged care residents

SPONSORED STORY – Skin tears not only reduce the quality of life of residents, they also increase the operating costs of facilities. Ego Pharmaceuticals has shown that twice-daily moisturising with QV Skin Lotion reduces skin tears and costs.

Skin tears are common and can affect up to 41.5 percent of residents in aged care facilities (Source: Shutterstock)

Skin tears are common in the elderly, affecting up to 41.5 percent of residents in aged care facilities. As well as the pain and distress that they can cause residents, they can be a source of anxiety for their families and reflect badly on the quality of care provided by the facility. There is also a risk of the wound becoming infected, or of other complications developing.

“Of course, skin tears also have an impact on the operating costs of facilities,” Anita Wright from Ego Pharmaceuticals says.

“In an Australian study looking at the costs of treating and managing wounds, the mean cost of treating each skin tear was estimated to be nearly $500.”

The main contributors to this cost were nursing time, dressings and other wound care products, as well as waste disposal.

QV Skin Lotion is proven to help prevent skin tears.

The use of an effective moisturiser on aged skin can help improve the skin’s integrity and protect against skin tears.

In a trial in Queensland, 430 patients aged over 65 years had their arms and legs moisturised with QV Skin Lotion twice a day. At the end of the trial period, the incidence of skin tears was compared with data from an incidence survey from the hospital. There was a 45 percent reduction in skin tear patients and a 51 percent reduction in skin tears.

“These results clearly show that twice-daily moisturisation with QV Skin Lotion is an effective way to significantly reduce the occurrence of skin tears,” Ms Wright says.

“In addition to using QV Skin Lotion, a pH-neutral, soap-free cleanser such as QV Gentle Wash may also help reduce the risk of skin tears.”

QV Skin Lotion can significantly reduce operating costs.

According to Ms Wright, a cost-benefit analysis has shown that preventing skin tears with QV Skin Lotion is very cost effective.

“As mentioned before, the mean cost of treating a skin tear has been estimated at nearly $500. If you compare the cost of using QV Skin Lotion is far outweighed by the savings from treating fewer skin tears,” Ms Wright says.

“In fact, we were quite surprised by the results – a facility with around 80 residents could expect to save around $95,000 over a year.”